Arenys de Mar combines maritime attractions with a distinctive heritage and varied coastal landscapes. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these highlights separately: museums and buildings tell stories of art and history, the harbour and fish auction bring the maritime side to life, while beaches and paths showcase different landscape features. The train journey is also easy to plan: Arenys de Mar is served by the R-1 Rodalies line; the journey to Plaça de Catalunya takes 50 minutes. Check the latest timetable before setting off.

Heritage, museums and guided tours

The municipality presents Cementiri d’Arenys de Mar as one of the two cultural heritage sites of national interest particularly highlighted in Arenys de Mar. The cemetery is home to mausoleums by Catalan sculptors, including works by Venanci Vallmitjana, Josep Llimona and Frederic Marès. Another way to explore the town’s history is to visit Edifici Xifré: built between 1844 and 1846 as a hospital for the poor, it still contains the mausoleum of Josep Xifré i Casas. The Mercat, a Modernist building, also stands on the Riera.

Several museums focus on very different subjects. Museu Marès de la Punta explores the history and techniques of handmade and machine-made lace. Its valuable collection includes pieces from across Europe, dating from the late 16th century to the present day. Museu Mollfulleda de Mineralogia focuses on a significant mineral collection; on the ground floor, the specimens are classified according to their chemical properties. Museu d’Arenys de Mar offers six themed routes covering art, the sea, fashion, industry, minerals and women. Check visitor information before your trip.

Visitors interested in the main altarpiece of Santa Maria d’Arenys de Mar can join a guided tour that presents the work as a significant example of Catalan Baroque heritage. Reservations and availability may change. Guided tours at Museu d’Arenys de Mar are also open to all visitor groups; they are held in Catalan and must be booked in advance. The self-guided Itinerario Vivo offers a different experience: QR codes at marked buildings activate a range of videos. Digital access arrangements may change.

Harbour, water sports and fish auction

Port d’Arenys de Mar is both a fishing harbour and a marina. Water sports enthusiasts will find two different types of offering: Club Nàutic Arenys de Mar offers the public kayaking, catamaran sailing, paddleboarding, sailing, diving and windsurfing. Base Nàutica d’Arenys de Mar offers sessions and courses in various water sports, as well as sea kayak and SUP board rentals. Activities and availability at the club, along with course times and rental availability at the base, may change.

You can also get a glimpse of the fishing port at Llotja Arenys de Mar, where visitors can watch the fish auction independently on weekdays at around 4 pm. The approximate time may change, so it is best to check the latest information before visiting. Calamarenys also offers a culinary connection to the town: a gastronomic and cultural event centred on squid as a local symbol. It has a history spanning three decades; dates and programme details may change.

Beaches and routes

Platja del Cavaió is the main beach in Arenys de Mar. It is about 1,000 metres long and averages around 90 metres wide. Since 2009, it has included nature-inspired areas, restored outlets of the Rials and protected sandy zones designed to support the development of coastal flora and fauna. At Platja de la Picòrdia, the focus is on ecological and landscape restoration: a programme to this effect has been underway there since 2009. It includes a tree-lined promenade behind the beach and restored outlets of Rial del Bareu and the Riera.

The routes also offer different highlights. Ruta Serralada de Montplana lies west of Arenys de Mar and is known for its landscape value and viewpoints. Itinerario de Naturaleza por los Rials explores the distinctive flora, fauna and characteristic materials of the Rials habitat. If you plan to walk there, check the weather conditions beforehand. You can complete Ruta dels 4 Turons on foot or by bicycle; it starts and ends at CEM Fondo de les Creus. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their different themes and the explicitly stated ways of getting around.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sant Andreu De Llavaneres, Moia, La Ràpita, Fogars de la Selva, Fonollosa, Llerona, Corró d’Avall, Sant Joan Samora.

To view the wider travel guide: Barcelona.